Marcelo Bielsa Favourite to Become Next Barcelona Manager with Paddy Power

Written on Friday 27th April, 8:43 am by adminIrish bookmaker Paddy Power has installed current Athletic Bilbao manager Marcelo Bielsa as the favourite to replace Pep Guardiola as Barcelona manager as speculation grows about the Nou Camp manager’s imminent departure.

Argentine manager Bielsa has been listed at 10/3 at Paddy Power to become the next Barcelona manager with Guardiola apparently telling sources close to him that he wants to leave the La Liga champions for a new challenge having won 13 trophies with the club in just 3 seasons.

Former Barcelona cult hero Luis Enrique is second favourite at 11/2 with former Dutch player Frank de Boer at 9/1 and Dutch manager Louis van Gaal available at 10/1. Current Arsenal manager is also being considered as a dark horse and is available at 10/1 with some pundits even suggesting Guardiola and Wenger could swap job roles with Guardiola moving on to Arsenal.

Guardiola’s assistant manager Tito Vilanova is also being touted as a possible candidate with Paddy Power and is being offered to replace Guardiola at 12/1. Other potential candidates for the job include former Chelsea and Porto manager Andre Villas-Boas at 15/2, former Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard at 16/1 and Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff at 16/1.

Less likely successors to Guardiola at what is being labelled as ‘Europe’s top job’ include ex-England manager Fabio Capello at 40/1, current Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho at 66/1 and former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson at 66/1.